The second bonsai image is good. I think it'd be kewl to make a few of those with a different image, but with the overall same look, and then randomly load one of them with each visit. So maybe another of a torii, of sakura, and so forth.

Also, I think it'd be kewl to change the color scheme every 3-6 months or so, if there is an easy way to somewhat automate that.

I've only been there once myself but it is a very nice place to visit. My wife tells me that a few decades ago, her grandfather used to do the Cormorant fishing there and was in a TV documentary where he demonstrated the technique.

I prefer the second bonsai tree banner, but I have to say that I am not a fan of the Japanese woman. She's been on the site for ages, and is used in rich's story, but I'm sorry to say I really don't like it >< I'm not a fan of that art apparently, but I don't know... This will be like a new website, I think it should have a completely new look to it. Very stylish and well....new. I like the blue bonsai, it gives it a new looks to it, but I think the site could use a few fine tunings, such as the drawings and things that made it look a bit amateurish, (for example the godzilla on the bottom of the beta page lol). Aside from that, I like the new look so far, and I'll still be using the site for a looong time I hope everything goes well.

I like the left side of the second bonsai banner. The right side has too much dead space. I'm not sure I agree with the no-growth concept of bonsai. Bonsai is actually all about growth, but restrained, like in a learning environment, where teachers keep the students from getting unruly. After all, bonsai are eventually moved to bigger and bigger pots as they age. It's just that most people get the cheap trees at the market and erroneously believe the tree is supposed to stay in that little pot forever.

Bonsai was one of the things that got me into Japan so I think having it up there would be cool.

Another cool background would be one of those ink paintings of some nature scene.